Age is a protected characteristic in the Equality Act, 2010 but, unfortunately, ageism is still rife in many workplaces. Age discrimination is defined as adverse treatment for those over 40 based on their age rather than their individual attributes. Unfortunately, a 2015 study revealed that the older you are, the more likely you are to be on the receiving end of age discrimination – less likely to be recruited for a new job, a higher chance of being made redundant and passed over for promotion. Apart from being illegal, ageism is also bad for your business; failing to recruit...

Bad hiring decisions unfortunately happen, despite the best intentions of the interviewer. Managers can usually spot these individuals in a very short space of time, perhaps due to a poor attitude or a lack of skills that had been advertised at the interview. While it may not be possible to ease a disappointing newcomer out of the company quickly, there are several ways to reduce the risk of a repeated scenario.

Avoiding poor attitudes

Many people perform very well in front of the interviewer, confident, enthusiastic and polite. They are aware, at this stage, that they...

As people look for a better work-life balance, the idea of job-sharing is becoming increasingly credible. New parents, carers, people looking to spend more time on a freelance project or hobbies can see the potential of sharing a working week with another employee. Yet, this can work to the employers advantage too. Two people can bring different ideas and accumulated years of professional experience for the price of one.

Partnership of Trust

For job-sharing to work, the two employees need to be the right fit for each other and the company. Each of the...

You've likely heard all of the benefits of traditional mentoring, where a seasoned employee or manager helps a new hire along as they learn the ropes, but have you ever heard of reverse mentoring? This is a situation where the new hires teach their skills to the seasoned employees with the idea that they have a wealth of new and modern knowledge to bring to the table. It's a powerful way to run a business. Here's why.

Rules for Reverse Mentoring

If you'd like to give reverse mentoring a try in your business or office environment, there are several factors that come...